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Joe Shaute
American baseball player (1899–1970) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Joseph Benjamin Shaute (August 1, 1899 – February 21, 1970) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched from 1922 to 1934, and during his 13-year career, he played primarily for the Cleveland Indians.[1] He attended Juniata College and Mansfield University of Pennsylvania.
He made his major league debut in September 1922, and threw his first pitch to legendary swatter Babe Ruth.[1] Baseball historian William C. Kashatus noted that when Shaute came to the pitching mound, "the Indians were clinging to a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth with two outs and bases loaded with Yankees".[1] Shaute gained notoriety when he struck out Ruth on four pitches to end the inning.[1] In the following inning, he faced another powerful hitter, Bob Meusel, who "swung so hard on Shaute's first offering that he whirled completely around and fell to the ground".[1] The pitcher next struck out Yankee catcher Freddie Hoffman.[1] Kashatus observed that Shaute "continued to dominate Ruth for the next three years".[1]
The situation changed in 1927, however, when Ruth hit 60 home runs, setting a major league record that stood for more than seven decades.[1] Ruth hit three of those home runs—numbers 30, 40, and 52—off of Shaute.[1] Nevertheless, during his 13-season career, Shaute struck out Ruth on more than 30 occasions.[1]
Shaute enjoyed his best season in 1924, "when he won 20 games for the lowly Indians who finished sixth that year".[1]
As a hitter, Shaute was a better than average hitting pitcher, posting a .258 batting average (170-for-660) with 63 runs, 1 home run, 64 RBI and drawing 40 bases on balls.[2]
Born in Peckville, Pennsylvania, Shaute died of cancer in nearby Scranton on February 21, 1970, aged 70.[3]
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